Material moving apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention contemplates an improved material moving apparatus which is particularly useful for blowing insulation material into portions of various structures. The apparatus includes: a hopper, having a chamber; a hopper blade assembly; a blower assembly; and a discharge conduit. The material is discharged into the hopper chamber, contacted by the hopper blade assembly, and moved through the blower assembly into the discharge conduit for discharging the material from the material moving apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an improved material movingapparatus and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to animproved apparatus for blowing insulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective, partial diagrammatic view of thematerial moving apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the orientation of the hopperblade assembly utilized in the material moving apparatus shown in FIG.1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, showntherein and designated via the general reference numeral 10 is amaterial moving apparatus constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. In general, the material moving apparatus 10 includes: ahopper 12, having a material receiving opening 14, a material dischargeopening 16 and a chamber 18, the material receiving and dischargeopenings 14 and 16, respectively, each being in communication with thechamber 18; a hopper blade assembly 20 which is disposed in the hopperchamber 18; a blower assembly 22; and a discharge conduit 24 which isconnected to the blower discharge.

In general, the material, such as insulation material, for example, isdischarged into the chamber 18 through the material receiving opening14. The material falls or moves through the chamber 18 generally towardthe material discharge opening 16. As the material falls toward thematerial discharge opening 16, the material is contacted by the hopperblade assembly 20, the hopper blade assembly 20 cooperating to shred thematerial and move the material from the hopper chamber 18 toward andthrough the material discharge opening 16 for discharging the materialfrom the chamber 18. The material discharged through the hopper materialdischarge opening 16 is received at the blower inlet of the blowerassembly 22 and forcibly discharged by the blower assembly 22 into andthrough the discharge conduit 24, the material being discharged from thematerial moving apparatus 10 via the discharge conduit 24. In aparticular insulation blowing application, one end of a flexible conduit(not shown) is connected to the discharge conduit 24 for guiding thedischarged material into portions of various structures.

The hopper 12 has an upper end 26 and a lower end 28, the materialreceiving opening 14 being formed through the upper end 26. Moreparticularly, the hopper 12 includes a first sidewall 30, a secondsidewall 32, a first end wall 34, second end wall 36, and a lower endwall 38. The walls 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 are interconnected to encompassand form the hopper chamber 18.

A portion of the second end wall 36, extending a distance from the upperend 26 toward the lower end 28 of the hopper 18 is formed on an incline,the inclined portion of the wall 36 cooperating to move the material inthe chamber 18 generally toward the lower end 26. The lower end wall 38is formed on a radius and the material discharge opening 16 is formedthrough the second end wall 36, generally adjacent the lower end wall 38and generally adjacent the lowermost portion of the chamber 18.

The hopper blade assembly 20 includes a shaft 40, a plurality of blades42 and a blade drive 44. The shaft 40 is disposed in the hopper chamber18 and extends generally between the first and the second end walls 34and 36, respectively, the shaft 40 being journally connected to the endwalls 34 and 36 so that the shaft 40 is rotatably mounted in the hopper12. One end portion of the shaft 40 extends through the second end wall36 and is connected to the blade drive 44, the blade drive 44 beingsecured to the second end wall 36.

In one form, the blade drive 44 is an electric motor and, in anactivated condition of the blade drive 44, the blade drive 44 operatesto rotatingly drive the shaft 40 thereby rotating the blades 42. Theblades 42 are disposed within the hopper chamber 18 and positioned tocontact the material as the material falls through the chamber 18generally from the upper end 26 toward the lower end 28. Further, theblades 42 are oriented and positioned on the shaft 40 to cooperate inmoving the material from the chamber 18 through the material dischargeopening 16.

The hopper blade assembly 20, more particularly, includes: a first pairof blades 46, one end of each of the first pair of blades beingconnected to the shaft 40 and each of the blades of the first pair ofblades 46 extending generally radially from the shaft 40 in oppositedirections; a second pair of blades 48, one end of each blade of thesecond pair of blades 48 being connected to the shaft 40 and each bladeof the second pair of blades extending generally radially from the shaft40 in opposite directions; a third pair of blades 50, one end of eachblade of the third pair of blades 50 being connected to the shaft 40 andeach blade of the third pair of blades 50 extending generally radiallyfrom the shaft 40 in opposite directions; and a fourth pair of blades52, one end of each blade of the fourth pair of blades 52 beingconnected to the shaft 40 and each blade of the fourth pair of blades 52extending generally radially from the shaft 40 in opposite directions.As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2, the first pair of blades ispositioned on the shaft 40 such that the first pair of blades 46 isdisposed generally near the second end wall 36 of the hopper 12. Thesecond pair of blades is positioned on the shaft 40, spaced a distancefrom the first pair of blades 46 in a direction generally from thesecond end wall 36 toward the first end wall 34. The third pair ofblades 50 is positioned on the shaft 40 and spaced a distance from thesecond pair of blades 48 in the direction generally from the second endwall 36 to the first end wall 34 of the chamber 18, the second pair ofblades 48 being positioned generally between the first pair of blades 46and the third pair of blades 50. The fourth pair of blades 52 ispositioned on the shaft 40 such that the fourth pair of blades 52 isdisposed generally near the first end wall 34, the third pair of blades50 being disposed generally between the second pair of blades 48 and thefourth pair of blades 52.

Each of the blades 42 has a length sufficient such that the end of eachof the blades 42, generally opposite the end which is connected to theshaft 40, is disposed near the lower end wall 38 during the rotation ofthe blades 42. The lower end wall 38 is formed on a curve or radius toencourage the movement of the material within the chamber 18 generallytoward the lower end 28 of the hopper 12 and the radius of curvature ofthe lower end wall 38 generally corresponds to the radius formed by eachof the blades 42 extending from the shaft 40 to minimize the distancebetween the lower end wall 38 and the outermost ends of the blades 42,opposite the ends of the blades 42 connected to the shaft 40.

The first, the second, the third and the fourth pair of blades 46, 48,50 and 52, respectively, each extend angularly from the shaft 40 tocooperate in moving the material disposed in the hopper chamber 18 nearthe lower end 28 from the hopper chamber 18 and through the materialdischarge opening 16. More particularly, the second pair of blades isangularly disposed on the shaft 40 to cross a first reference line 54which extends radially from the shaft 40 and is disposed generallybetween the second pair of blades 48 and the third pair of blades 50.The third pair of blades is angularly oriented on the shaft 40 such thatthe third pair of blades 50 crosses or passes through the firstreference line 54. In addition, the third pair of blades 50 is angularlyoriented and positioned on the shaft 40 such that the third pair ofblades 50 crosses or passes through a second reference line 56 whichextends radially from the shaft 40 and is disposed generally between thethird pair of blades 50 and the fourth pair of blades 52. The fourthpair of blades 52 is angularly oriented and positioned on the shaft 40such that the fourth pair of blades 52 crosses or passes through thesecond reference line 56. The angular orientation of the pairs of blades46, 48, 50 and 52 enhances the ability of the blades 42 to cooperate inmoving the material disposed near the lower end 28 of the hopper 12 in adirection generally from the first end wall 34 toward the second endwall 36 and through the material discharge opening 16 therebydischarging the material from the chamber 18.

As diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 2, the first, the second, thethird and the fourth pairs of blades 46, 48, 50 and 52 each have a bladepitch to facilitate the moving of the material in a direction from thefirst end wall 34 toward the second end wall 36 and through the materialdischarge opening 16, the blade pitch being designed to cooperate withthe angular orientation and position of the blades 42 on the shaft 40such that the blades 42 cooperate to provide an auger type of action formoving the material in the direction generally from the first end wall34 toward the second end wall 36 and through the material dischargeopening 16. In one embodiment, the blades of the first pair of blades 46each have a thirty-five degree (35°) blade pitch, the blades of thesecond pair of blades 48 each have a forty-five degree (45°) bladepitch, the blades of the third pair of blades 50 each have a forty-fivedegree (45°) blade pitch and the blades of the fourth pair of blades 52each have a sixty degree (60° ) blade pitch. Further, in one operationalembodiment, the first pair of blades 46 are positioned on the shaft 40such that the blades of the first pair of blades 46 each pass withinabout one-fourth of an inch from the second end wall 36 and the bladesof the fourth pair of blades 52 are positioned on the shaft such thatthe blades of the fourth pair of blades 52 each pass within aboutone-fourth of an inch from the first end wall 34.

The material moving apparatus 10 also includes a delivery tube 58 havingan opening extending therethrough and opposite ends 60 and 62. The end60 of the delivery tube 58 is connected to the second end wall 36 of thehopper 12 generally near the lower end 28. The delivery tube 58 ispositioned on the hopper 12 such that the delivery tube 58 encompassesthe material discharge opening 16, the opening through the delivery tube58 being in communication with the material discharge opening 16. Theend 62 of the delivery tube 58 is connected to the blower assembly 22and positioned on the blower assembly 22 such that the opening throughthe delivery tube 58 is in communication with the blower inlet.

An air opening 64 is formed through the delivery tube 58 incommunication with the delivery tube opening for introducing air intothe stream of material flowing through the delivery tube opening 58 tothe blower inlet of the blower assembly 22. A collar 66 is disposedabout the delivery tube 58 and a collar opening 68 is formed through thecollar 66. The collar 66 is rotatable on the delivery tube 58 to aposition wherein the collar opening 68 is aligned with the air opening64, as shown in FIG. 1, and to positions wherein the collar 66 partiallycloses or entirely closes the air opening 64, the collar 66 beingmovable on the delivery tube 58 to regulate the amount or volume of airpassing through the air opening 64 and into the delivery tube 58 openingby, in essence, varrying the size of the air opening 64, the collar 66operating to vary the size of the air opening 64 to control the volumeof air introduced through the delivery tube 58 air opening 64.

In one operational embodiment, there are two air openings formed throughthe delivery tube 58 and two alignable openings formed through thecollar 66. A grip 70 is connected to the collar 66 by a chain 72. Thegrip 70 is supported on a plate 74 and positioned so that an operatorcan move the collar 66 by pulling the chain 72 via the grip 70, the grip70 being remotely supported with respect to the collar.

During the operation of the material moving apparatus 10, material suchas insulation is loaded into the chamber 18 via the material receivingopening 14, the material moving downwardly through the chamber 18generally from the upper end 26 toward the lower end 28 of the hopper12. As the material passes through the chamber 18, the material iscontacted by the rotating blades 42 where the material is shredded tothe desired material density or size. The material is moved via theauger action of the hopper blade assembly 20 from the chamber 18 intoand through the material discharge opening 16, the material being passedfrom the material discharge opening 16 into the delivery tube 58opening. The material passes through the delivery tube 58 into theblower inlet of the blower assembly 22, air being introduced into thestream of material passing through the delivery tube 58 via the airopening 64 with the amount of air being introduced into the deliverytube 58 opening being controlled by the position of the collar 66 on thedelivery tube 58. The material is forcibly discharged from the blowerassembly 22 via the blower discharge into and through the dischargedconduit 24. The material is discharged from the material movingapparatus 10 via the discharge conduit 24. In an operationalapplication, an additional conduit is connected to the discharge conduit24 to receive the material discharge from the material moving apparatus10 for blowing the material into the desired location by positioningsuch additional flexible conduit (not shown).

As mentioned before, the material moving apparatus 10 is particularlyuseful for blowing insulation into portions of various structures. Thus,all of the components of the material moving apparatus 10 are containedwithin a retainer 80 so that the material moving apparatus can be easilytransported to various remote locations. The retainer 80 can beinstalled in a pickup truck or a truck-van type of vehicle therebyproviding the required mobility of the material moving apparatus 10.

In applications wherein the material moving apparatus 10 is utilized forblowing insulation materials, it has been found that the length of thedelivery tube 66 needs to be sufficient to allow the insulation materialto form a plug prior to entering the blower inlet of the blower assembly22. In one application, it has been found that the length of thedelivery tube 58 should be between six and nine inches in length and ithas been found that where the length of the delivery tube 58 is shorterthan six inches, the material moving apparatus 10 will not functionproperly.

The blades 42 must be of a sufficient length to cut the insulationmaterial in the hopper chamber 18 and to keep the material within thechamber 18 agitated, thereby substantially preventing the insulationmaterial from bridging.

The hopper 12 is designed such that the first and the second side walls30 and 32 and the first end wall 34 are substantially straight and thesestraight walls 30, 32 and 34 cooperate with the curved or rounded bottomto substantially eliminate bridging problems when utilizing the materialmoving apparatus 10 for blowing insulation type materials.

The material moving apparatus 10 is designed to substantially reduce thenumber of moving parts and to eliminate belts, pulleys, chains orsprockets, thereby reducing maintenance and repair or replacementexpense.

The material moving apparatus 10 has only two moving parts, the blowingassembly 22 and the hopper blade assembly 24, thereby reducingmaintenance and repair problems. In prior applications there have beensubstantially more moving parts.

The material shred density can be adjusted during utilization of thematerial moving apparatus 10 by adjusting the blade position on theshaft 40 and the pitch of the blades 42. It is desirable to have amaterial density adjustment because commercially available insulationmaterials differ in class and character and because even insulationmaterials of the same kind are furnished in bags of various volume forthe same weight by different manufacturers.

Utilizing the material moving apparatus 10 of the present invention, theinsulation material is shredded as the insulation material is conveyedvia the auger action of the hopper blade assembly 20. The blades 42 ofthe hopper blade assembly 20 cooperate or act to reduce "clumps" in theinsulation material while the material is being conveyed.

Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the variouselements and assemblies described herein without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A material moving apparatus, comprising:a hopperhaving an upper end and a lower end, a material receiving opening beingformed in the upper end, the hopper having a chamber and a materialdischarge opening, material being dischargable into the chamber throughthe material receiving opening and the material being movable from thechamber through the material discharge opening, the lower end portion ofthe hopper being formed on a radius; a hopper blade assembly disposed inthe hopper chamber for shredding the material discharged into the hopperchamber, the hopper blade assembly cooperating to shred the material andcooperating to move the material from the hopper chamber through thematerial discharge opening, comprising:a shaft rotatably mounted andextending through a portion of the hopper chamber; at least two blades,each blade being connected to the shaft and extending a distanceradially therefrom terminating with an outermost end; and means torotatingly drive the shaft, thereby rotating the blades within thehopper chamber, the lower end portion of the hopper being formed on theradius and shaped to provide a minimum clearance between the outermostends of the blades of the hopper blade assembly and the lower endportion of the hopper; a blower assembly for receiving substantially allof the material discharged through the hopper material discharge openingand forcibly discharging the received material through a blowerdischarge; and a discharge conduit connected to the blower discharge andreceiving substantially all of the material discharged from the materialdischarge opening, substantially all of the material being dischargedfrom the material moving apparatus via the discharge conduit.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the hopper includes an upper end and alower end, the material receiving opening being formed in the upper endand an upper portion of the hopper being shaped to move the materialtoward the lower end.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hopperincludes a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall and asecond side wall, the walls being interconnected to encompass a portionof the hopper chamber and at least one of the walls being positioned onan incline, the inclined wall cooperating to move the material towardthe lower end.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hopper includes afirst end wall, a second end wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewalland a lower end wall formed on a radius to minimize the clearancebetween the outermost ends of the blades of the hopper blade assemblyand the lower end wall of the hopper.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein the material discharge opening in the hopper is formed throughthe second end wall generally near the lower end of the hopper so thematerial discharged into the hopper chamber flows through the area inthe hopper chamber where the blades are disposed prior to being disposednear the hopper material discharge opening to substantially assure thematerial is engaged via the blades prior to being moved from the hopperchamber through the material discharge opening.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein at least two of the blades are disposed on the shaftsuch that a portion of said blades generally near the outermost ends aredisposed near the hopper material discharge opening.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the blades are defined further to include:a first pairof blades, each blade being connected to the shaft and extendingradially therefrom in generally opposite directions, the first pair ofblades being disposed generally near the second end wall; a second pairof blades, each blade being connected to the shaft and extendinggenerally radially therefrom at a predetermined angle; a third pair ofblades, each blade being connected to the shaft and extending generallyradially therefrom at a predetermined angle; and a fourth pair ofblades, each blade being connected to the shaft and extending generallyradially therefrom at a predetermined angle, the angular disposition ofthe second, third and fourth pairs of blades being determined tocooperate in moving the material disposed in the hopper chamber near thelower end from the hopper chamber and through the material dischargeopening.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second pair of bladesis angularly disposed to pass through a first reference line extendingradially from the shaft and disposed between the second pair of bladesand the third pair of blades, and wherein the third pair of blades isangularly disposed to pass through the first reference line.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein the third pair of blades is angularlydisposed to pass through a second reference line extending radially fromthe shaft and disposed between the third pair of blades and the fourthpair of blades, and wherein the fourth pair of blades is angularlydisposed to pass through the second reference line.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein each of the blades of the first, the second, the thirdand the fourth are pitched at a predetermined blade angle to cooperatein moving the material from the hopper chamber through the materialdischarge opening.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 defined further toinclude:a delivery tube having an opening extending therethrough, oneend of the delivery tube being connected to the hopper and positionedsuch that the delivery tube opening is in communication with the hoppermaterial discharge opening and the opposite end of the delivery tubebeing connected to the blower assembly, the material being dischargedfrom the hopper chamber through the material discharge opening andthrough the delivery tube opening to the blower assembly, the deliverytube having an air opening formed through a portion thereof incommunication with the delivery tube opening for introducing air intothe stream of material flowing through the delivery tube opening to theblower.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 defined further to include:meansfor varying the size of the air opening in the delivery tube to controlthe volume of air introduced into the delivery tube opening.